Harrison man wins $1 million

Thomas Vozer of Harrison sits in his favorite Harrison McDonald's seat with a ceremonial check presented to him for one million dollars on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, after Vozer won the prize during Mcdonald's Monopoly game this year. The real check, Vozer said, "Is already in the bank." (Sun photo by LISA YANICK-JONAITIS/@lisayj_msun)

On a typical day, Thomas J. Vozar eats breakfast at home, then goes to the McDonalds in Harrison to top off that meal with a breakfast burrito.

He also goes to the restaurant to have coffee with friends in the morning.

On Thursday, he went to the restaurant to collect a giant check for $1 million.

Like many McDonalds customers, Vozar played the restaurant’s Monopoly game.

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When Vozar went to the restaurant Oct. 22, he deviated from his usual coffee and breakfast burrito.

Instead, he got a fruit and maple oatmeal, because he saw a commercial and thought it looked good.

He also opted for the oatmeal that day because it came with a Monopoly game piece.

When Vozar peeled the game piece and found that he had gotten Park Place, he knew instantly that he won.

Vozar isn’t sure when he got the matching Boardwalk piece, but he knew he had a match.

“I just put it in my pocket and went home,” he said. “I didn’t tell anybody.”

Vozar, who is retired from Mid Michigan Community College, where he worked for 23 years in maintenance and at the physical plant, isn’t sure when he got the Boardwalk piece, but he thinks it was on a grilled chicken sandwich meal.

After pocketing the Park Place Monopoly piece, Vozar went home, got online and downloaded an affidavit provided by McDonalds.

After inking his initials on the game pieces, Vozar put them in a plastic bag, attached them to the affidavit, and had the document notarized at Chemical Bank.

He only told two people about his luck, and only during the past week.

Vozar received the $1 million check by Fed Ex Wednesday, and was notified Thursday morning to be at the Harrison McDonalds at 3 p.m. for the ceremonial giant check passing.

Having deposited the money in the bank, Vozar isn’t planning anything extravagant with the winnings.

He wants to do some work on his Long Lake home, and anticipates some beach parties this summer.

Joe Nicklyn, who owns and operates the Harrison McDonalds, was ecstatic that Vozar won at his restaurant.

“It’s just neat,” Nicklyn said. “We’re excited, probably just as much as he is.”

Nicklyn said Vozar is the first customer at the Harrison McDonald’s to win a grand prize.

(Susan Field can be reached at sfield@michigannewspapers.com or follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/#!/susan.k.field.)